Catalog: Antiques: Decorative Art (485)

A lovely Art Nouveau etched and enameled cameo glass perfume bottle by Cristalleries Saint-Louis. The design features a design of enameled thistles against a frosted-ice background. The enameling is done in multiple shades of yellowish-green, mauve and violet. The rim is highlighted with a simple band of gilding echoed by the gilt star at the top of the lapidary stopper. The bottom has a large polished pontil. This style is typical of the naturalistic motifs used by Saint-Louis around 1900.

Origin: France, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks. Dimensions: 8-1/2" tall.

A lovely cut glass perfume bottle cut from cranberry to clear. The design is a simple, classic combination of crosshatched diamonds and fans. The shoulders of the bottle are panel cut, and the base is finished with a 24-point star. The lapidary-cut stopper is original to the bottle and is engraved with the same number as the inside of the bottle's neck. Origin: Europe, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks. Size: 5-3/4" tall.

A wonderful Art Nouveau sterling silver cracker scoop in Blackinton’s 1904 “Daisy” pattern. The handle, decorated with flowers and foliage, nicely accents the ruffled edge of the bowl. Cracker scoops were originally used to serve small crackers similar to today’s oyster crackers. Now, the piece could be used to serve a variety of foods. Blackinton made a small line of very good sterling silver flatware in the Art Nouveau style. All U.S. embassies worldwide use Blackinton flatware for formal occasions. The back is marked with Blackinton’s hallmark.

Origin: America, ca. 1905. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, no monogram. Size: 9-13/16” long. Weight: 133.0 grams.

A wonderful solid brass humidor, the top embossed with the double eagle insignia of Russia's Imperial Romanov family, and the front embossed with the double lions rampant of the British Empire. The top, front and sides are enhanced with scalloped punchwork borders. The box is raised on claw feet. The interior has a removable tin liner and a perforated platform that was used to keep a moist sponge separated from the surface of the cigars.

England and Russia signed the Anglo-Russian Entente in 1907, and along with the Entente Cordiale (England & France) and the Franco-Russian Alliance (France & Imperial Russia), the three nations formed the Triple Entente that eventually entered into World War I against Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Anglo-Russian Entente greatly leveled the balance of power in Continental Europe and was widely celebrated. This box was created in honor of that event and may have been a mid-level diplomatic gift from a British representative to his Russian peer. Although we have not seen it, we understand that the same box exists with the French arms on the lid in place of Romanov double eagle.

Origin: England, ca. 1907. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, all original; it appears that the perforated sponge screen was originally soldered to the inside of the lid, but it is now separated. Size: 10-7/8" x 6-1/2" x 6".

Lovely sterling silver demitasse spoon, the handle decorated with four shades of translucent enamel. The plique-a-jour technique allows light to shine through, creating a stained glass effect. The exposed areas of silver are gilt. The back of the bowl is marked "JT830".

Origin: Europe, ca 1900. Condition: excellent, no enamel damage, original gilding. Size: 4-5/8" long.

A very nice sterling silver pincushion and sewing box by Tiffany & Co. The pierced sterling silver walls enclose a sewing box (or jewelry box) with two hinged tops that serve as pincushions. The current dark purple velvet is a replacement, but is placed over the original box structure. The pierced handle has an area that can be monogrammed (never been monogrammed). The whole is raised on bun feet. The bottom is marked with the Tiffany hallmark in use 1902-07.

Origin: America, 1902-07. Condition: excellent, velvet replaced, never monogrammed. Size: 6-7/8” x 3-1/2” x 4-1/2” tall.

Pretty late Victorian porcelain child's cup. One side has a polychrome transfer image of a playful dog, while the other shows another dog with a blue ribbon around his neck. The rim and handle are decorated with gilt bands. Porcelain cups such as these were prized by Victorian children. The bottom is marked "Germany".

Origin: Germany, ca 1900. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks, light wear to gilding at rim. Size: 2-3/16" tall.

A very good cut glass vase by Clark in the "Iris" pattern. The lower third and the flared rim are cut with elongated hobstars flanked by mitred triangles of strawberry diamond cutting enhanced with fans; and the neck is cut with panels of printies alternating with notched prisms. The base is cut with a 20-point hobstar and has Clark’s script acid signature. The pattern is either "Iris" or a variant of “American Beauty”. The cutting is very precise and the polish is excellent.

Origin: America, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, a small nick to only one tooth at the rim. Size: 10-1/4” tall.

Very nice cold-painted Vienna bronze figure of a dachsund. The painting is finely done in shades of black and brown. Unmarked.

Origin: Austria, circa 1900. Condition: excellent, minimal wear at high points such as the tip of the nose and the tip of the tail. Size: 1-3/4" x 1-1/16".

A nice pair of painted cast iron curtain tiebacks in the form of sunflowers. The original paint is nicely applied with good shading.

Origin: America, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, original paint, very minimal paint chipping along edges. Size: 2-1/4” diameter.

Exceptionally fine Edwardian tortoishell letter box decorated with gold pique. The serpentine front is inlaid in a pattern of floral swags flanking a center wreath. The curved top has a matching wreath and swags as well as songbirds. The gold has a beautiful rose tint that contrasts nicely with the rich golden-brown of the tortoise, and the surfaces are intricately engraved to enhance the appearance. The use of gold for pique work was reserved for only the most expensive and impressive items. The back and sides of the box are covered in burgundy Morocco leather and the interior is covered in red silk moire. The workmanship and overall style of this piece suggests the workshop of William Comyns, though he more frequently worked in silver. Signed boxes by Comyns feature exactly the same lining and side upholstery and similar swag and wreath designs.

Origin: England, ca. 1905. Condition: very good, the front has a few hairlines (no hairlines on top), six of the tiny pins along the edge of the top are lacking, no loss to pique. Size: 10-1/8" x 5-3/4" x 7-1/4" tall.

NOTE: This item cannot be shipped outside the United States.

A nice stoneware ewer in an unusual form by Doulton Lambeth. The bulbous body is decorated with raised flowers and foliage against a cobalt blue ground, while the foot and long tapering neck are finished in a simple pattern of incised rings highlighted with chocolate brown borders. The inside of the foot is stamped with the mark used 1891-1902 and also with the artist's mark which appears to be a conjoined "JH", "HL" or possibly just an ornate "H". There is also an assistant's mark, "b".

Origin: England, ca. 1895. Condition: no chips or cracks. Size: 11-5/8" tall.

A fine boxed set of 12 sterling silver demitasse spoons in Gorham's 1896 "Maryland" pattern. The fronts of the handles are decorated scrolls, shells and pendant bouquets, while the backs are accented with simple scrolling and a shell motif near the bowls. The bowls are parcel gilt. This is a particularly lovely pattern--ornate, but not over the top. The spoons are presented in their original fitted box, the inside lid of which is marked with the logo of Gorham's New York City retail store. Each spoon is stamped with an older Gorham hallmark and the patent date.

Origin: America, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, all original, no monograms. Size: 4-1/16" long. Weight: 104.5 grams.

Extremely rare sterling silver oyster ladle in the 1900 "Buttercup" pattern by Gorham. Oyster ladles are very difficult to find because they were only included with the most complete services. They were used to serve oyster stews. Today, they could also be used for soups or even for punch. The back of the handle is marked with Gorham's old hallmark and also with the patent date, indicating that this is an early example.

Origin: America, ca 1900. Condition: nearly mint, no monogram, no dings, sharp detail. Size: 10-3/4" long. Weight: 165.25 grams.

A wonderful sterling silver footed basket by Gorham. The edges are decorated in an ornate Victorian floral motif that is echoed on the handle. The scrolled feet are accented with a shell motif. The rounded sides of the basket have a superb pierced floral design that sets this basket apart from most others. The basket is of the very finest quality made by Gorham in the Edwardian era. The basket would be ideal for a small floral arrangements or potpourri. The bottom is hallmarked with one of Gorham’s earlier marks and the date code for 1908.

Origin: America, 1908. Condition: excellent, a very slight bend to the handle. Size: 7-13/16” x 5-5/8” x 5-1/2” tall. Weight: 217.5 grams.

Outstanding sterling silver soup ladle in a repousse pattern. The design is a very finely worked pattern of roses and other flowers and foliage. The bowl is deeply lobed and has a scalloped edge. The pattern is similar to Kirk’s “Repousse”, but not identical. The back is marked “Sterling” but is not marked with a maker’s name (a frequent practice until around 1910). Clearly, the ladle is a Baltimore piece, and could be the work of Schofield, Warner, Jacobi or Kirk.

Origin: America, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, no monogram. Size: 11-1/2” long. Weight: 124.5 grams.

A delightful bronze dresser mirror, the entire frame ornately decorated in the form of two Pierrot figures and a smiling man-in-the-moon. Pierrot was a originally a Comedia dell’Arte character, but in the 18th century, he and the moon became inextricably linked in the French children’s song, “Au Claire de la Lune.” There are a few variations of this mirror; this is the most ornate, with the intricately beveled glass. The detailing of the figures is excellent.

Origin: France, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, all original; the glass has very light tarnishing typical of old silvered mirrors. Dimensions: 4-3/4” x 8-1/2”.

An elegant Art Nouveau glass vase decorated with enameled poppies. The blossoms are worked in shades of cream, yellow, rose and violet, while the foliage is stained a reddish-purple and highlighted with complex lacy gilding. The upper rim is decorated with a band of stained and gilt flowers, as well. The vase is blown in pillar form with an optic paneled design. The workmanship is very fine. Unsigned, but definitely made by Mont Joye (also know as Verreries Saint-Denis and Legras).

Origin: France, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, no cracks, no enamel or gilding wear. Size: 9-1/4”.